Single-type casting machines and composing machines



Nov. 10, 1964 3,156,347

SINGLE-TYPE CASTING MACHINES AND COMPOSING MACHINES Filed April 24. 1962 P. WILLS I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 10, 1964 P. wlLLs 3,156,347

SINGLE-TYPE CASTING MACHINES AND COMPOSING MACHINES Filed April 24, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 10, 1964 P. WILLS 3,156,347

SINGLE-TYPE CASTING MACHINES AND COMPOSING MACHINES Filed April 24, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 7 3,156,347 SlNGLE-TYPE CASTlNG li/ifiltill'iliES AND CGMPGSING MACHTNES Peter Wills, Three Bridges, Sussex, England, assignor to The Monotype Corporation Limited, London, England, a British company Filed Apr. 24, 1%2, Ser. No. 189,910 (Zlairns priority, application Great di'ltain Apr. 25, 1961 9 Claims. (Cl. 199-76) The invention may be applied, for example to machines as described in any of United States Patent Nos. 633,088, 2,388,961, and British patent specifications Nos. 8,633/ 1899, 27,476/ 1903 and 607,191, but is not exclusive thereto.

The invention provides, in one of its aspects, a singletype casting machine or a photographic composing machine comprising a carrier for carrying matrices and movable to bring any one of the matrices to a predetermined position, a first abutment carried by the said carrier, matrix selecting means for determining a range of selected positions of the said carrier in relation to the said predetermined position, which matrix selecting means include a second abutment, positioning means interposed between the first and second abutments, to position the first abutment in relation to the second abutment, and means for adjusting the positioning means to vary the said positional relation between the first and second abutments, thereby to determine a selected one of the said range of positions of the said carrier, whereby a matrix elected by the matrix selecting means and by the said adjusting means can be brought to the said predetermined position. The said means for adjusting the positioning means preferably comprise a draw rod pivotally attached to a sliding frame forming part of the carrier for the matrices, and alternative seatings, for a head on the draw rod, in jaws forming part of the positioning means, so that the position to which the sliding frame is set by the said jaws is adjustable by moving the draw rod about its pivot to engage the seatings selectively.

The matrices may he dies for casting single-type bodies in metal, such as are employed in casting machines sold under the registered trademark Monotype, or may alternatively be transparencies for optical projection upon a photosensitive surface, such as are employed in the composing machine sold under th registered trademark Monophoto.

Preferably the carrier comprises a matrix case in which the matrices are arrayed, and may include a frame in which the matrix case is mounted.

There will now be described an embodiment of the invention, by way of example only, and it is to be understood that the invention, is not restricted thereto. The example will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of part of the matrix selecting mechanism of a single-type casting machine to which the invention is to be applied,

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of part of the mechanism of a similar machine, embodying the invention, some parts being omitted from the drawing for the sake of clarity in the drawing,

FIGURE 3 is a front view of part of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 2, some parts being omitted from the drawing for the sake of clarity of the drawing,

FIGURE 4 is a diagram illustrating the air piping and control system associated with the aforesaid mechanism, and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view of part of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 4.

The known mechanism shown in FIGURE 1 is part of a single-type casting machine, as described in British 3,15%,34? Patented Nov. 10, 1954 patent specifications Nos. 27,476/03 and 607,191, and known as a Monotype caster.

The matrix selecting mechanism described in the aforesaid specification and illustrated in the drawings forming part thereof comprises two sets of devices which act together to position any selected matrix in a movable matrix-case over a stationary typecasting mould. One set of devices operates upon the matrix-case and the other on a sliding frame in which the matrix-case is mounted. These two sets of devices operate on intersecting lines and each determines the position of the matrix-case in a particular direction.

The parts of the existing mechanism concerned, and as indicated in FEGURE 1 of the accompanying drawings, provide a matrix selecting means in the form of a primary positioning mechanism comprising a pair of oppositely movable levers, l, 2, which carry at their outer ends jaws 3, 4, which slide on a bar 37, and cooperate with one or other of a series of separately actuated pins 5, which constitute a primary gauging device, a secondary gauging device in the form of a stop 6 which is moved by the jaws 3, 4, to a position indicated by the operative primary gauge of the series 5, a secondary positioning mechanism comprising a pair of oppositely movable levers 7, 8, carrying at their outer ends jaws 9, 10, which are brought against the secondary gauge stop 6 and arranged to act on the head of a draw rod ll attached to the sliding frame 29 in which the matrix-case 30 is mounted to bring the latter into a position denoted by the operative pin of the primary gauging device 5.

The rear end of the levers i and 2 are coupled to gether by a link 12, whilst the lever 1, intermediate of its ends, is pivotally coupled to a stationary post 13, by a link 14, and the lever 2 is similarly coupled, through a link 15 with an actuator, which is in the form of a rocking lever to pivoted on a stationary post 17 and receives its motion from a cam operated prime mover l which embodies a spring coupling box 19.

Likewise the levers 7 and 8 of the secondary positioning mechanism are coupled together at their rear ends by a link 25 whilst the lever 7 is coupled to the rocking lever 16 by a link 21 and the lever 8 is similarly coupled with a stationary post 22 by a link 25.

The mechanism, above described, controls the movements of the matrix-case 3d and its sliding frame 29, in one direction, and a similar and duplicate mechanism for controlling the movements of the matrix-case in another direction in the said frame is indicated in FIGURE 1 and will be, as above stated, referred to later.

The lever 2 of the primary positioning mechanism is coupled to one end of a retracting or equalising spring 24 by means of a pivoted lever 25 and a link as, the other end of the said spring 24 being coupled by a pivotal lever 27 to one lever la of the second set of primary positioning devices.

When the casting machine is in operation, information designating the character to be cast is provided in the form of perforations on a paper record strip. Signals in the form of pulses of air pressure are derived from the perforated ribbon and are arranged to raise one of the pins 5 (together with one of the pins 5a) which pin corresponds to the matrix to be selected. When a pin 5 is in the raised position, the rocking lever 16 is rotated by prime mover iii in an anti-clockwise direction about post 17, so that the lever 2 pivots about its connection with link 12 until the jaw 4 abuts the raised pin 5. The lever 2 now pivots about its connection with the jaw 4, so that the link 12 causes the lever 1 to pivot about its connection with post 13 until the jaw 3 abuts the jaw d. The levers It and 2 are spring biassed to maintain the jaw 4 in contact with the raised pin 5. The jaws 3 and 4 have also, in their motion, moved the stop 6 to a position determined by the raised pin 5. The stop 6 is now locked in position by means of a locking pin (not shown) which is urged into engagement with the teeth of a rack (not shown) on which the stop is mounted. The rocking leved 16 is now rotated by prime mover 18 in a clockwise direction about post 17, so that the lever 7 pivots about its connection until link 20 with the jaw 9 abuts against the stop 6, carrying with it the head of the draw rod 11. The abutment of the jaw 9 against the stop prevents further pivoting of the lever '7 about its connection with the link 20; the lever, still driven by movement of the rocking lever 16, pivots about its connection with the jaw 9. The link 2t) causes the lever 8 to pivot about its connection with the post 22, until its jaw abuts against the jaw 9, so that the head of the draw rod 11 is positioned by the jaws 9 and it) into a position which is fixed with respect to the position of the stop 6, which latter position is determined by the raised pin 5.

Similar primary and secondary gauging and positioning mechanisms are employed for imparting movements to the matrix-case 30 in the other direction which is at right angles to that above described. These comprise oppositely movable primary positioning levers 1a, 2a carrying jaws 3a, 4a which cooperate with one or another pin of a series 5a; a secondary gauging stop 6a on which the said jaws act; secondary positioning levers 7a, 8a carrying jaws 9a, 10a between which is arranged a head on a draw rod 11a which is attached to slide 31 into a transverse slot 32 in which fits a nose or pin on the body of matrix-case. This pin and slot coupling allows the matrix-case to move with its supporting or carrier frame, and also allows the matrix-case to move relatively to the said carrying frame.

The lever 1a is connected to a stationary support 13a by a link 14a and the lever i is connected by a link 15a with a rocking lever 16a which turns on the same pivot 17 as the rocking lever 16. The lever 7a is connected by a link 21a to the rocking lever 116a while the lever 8a is connected by a link 23a to a stationary pivot 22a.

Further the levers 1a and 2a are coupled at their rear ends by a link 12a while levers 7a and 5a are similarly coupled together by a link a.

The lever 1a as already stated, is coupled to the lever 27 to which the equalising spring 24, already referred to, is connected.

This second matrix selecting means operate in a similar manner to that in which the first selecting means operate, as is described above.

The first and second matrix positioning means position the matrix-case with one selected matrix, representing the character to be cast, over a mould (not shown in the accompanying drawings). The final accurate positioning of what selected matrix with respect to the mould is performed by a conical pin which, when the selected matrix is positioned over the mould, enters a conical hole in the back of that matrix so that the matrix is clamped in a known predetermined position with respect to the mould during the subsequent casting operation. The pairs of jaws 9, 10 and 9a, ltla allow the matrixcase to move sufliciently for any slight shift thereof which may occur in the aforesaid final accurate positioning operation.

The modified jaws and draw-rod shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 correspond to the jaws 9 and lit), and draw-rod 11, of FIGURE 1.

The sliding frame 29 which holds the matrix-case is connected to a draw-rod 41 by means of a pivot 42, which passes through a projection 43 on the sliding-frame and a stirrup 44 which forms the tail of the draw-rod. This connection allows the draw-rod to pivot for movement in a vertical plane, so that the remote end of the drawrod, which carries a head 45, may move up and down. The inner end of the draw-rod 41 is threaded and is received in a threaded bore in the stirrup 44-. A lock-nut locks the draw-rod to the stirrup. By screwing the draw-rod into or out of the stirrup, the position of the sliding frame 29 with respect to the head 45 may be adjustably preset. The part 45:: of the head 45 facing away from the pivot 42 is part-spherical in shape, and the part 4512 facing towards the pivot is flat and in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the draw-rod.

The arms 7 and 8 carry jaws 46 and 47 respectively. These jaws have seatings for abutment with and reception of the head 45 of the draw-rod, and the jaw 47 has a slot 47a through which the draw-rod 41 passes. The right-hand jaw 47 has an upper fiat seating 43 and a lower flat seating 4-9, the upper seating 48 being nearer to the opposing lefthand jaw 45 than is the lower seating 49 by a selected distance. The left-hand jaw has a upper part-spherical seating 51 and a lower part spherical seating 52 being nearer to the opposing righthand jaw 47 than is the upper seating 51 by the same selected distance as aforesaid with respect to the seatings 48 and 4-9. If the jaws are brought together, the head 45 may be received either between the upper seatings 48 and 51, or between the lower seatings 49 and 52. The relative disposition of the seatings, and the aforesaid fixed distance, are such that for a given position of one of the jaws 4-6, 47, when the head 45 is received and positioned between the upper seatings 415 and 51, the sliding frame 29 is positioned (in this example) a distance of 0.2 inch to left of that plate in which it is positioned when the head 45 is received and positioned between the lower seatings 49 and 52. The vertical disposition of the draw-rod 41 is adjusted by means of a plunger 53 carried by a piston working in a pneumatic cylinder 54 to which compressed air may be supplied along line 55. When the air is supplied to the cylinder, the plunger 53 rises so that its upper end contacts the under side of the draw-rod 41, and then pushes the draw-rod upwards. The draw-rod moves about pivot 42 so that its head 51 moves upwards until it abuts against the under side of an upper separator plate 56 immediately above the upper seatings of jaws 46 and 47 and extending along their paths of travel. The head 4-5 when in this raised position is positioned between the upper pair of seatings 48, 51 when the jaws close. Similarly, the upper face of a lower separator plate 57 immediately beneath the lower seatings of the jaws and extending along their paths of travel provides a support for the head 45 to rest on when the plunger 53 is lowered, so that when the head is in this position it is clamped between the lower pair of seatings 49, 52 when the jaws are closed. The lower separator plate has a portion cut away in it to allow the plunger 53 to protrude up through it. The upper separator plate is slidably removable from its position, to enable other parts of the mechanism to be removed.

The jaws and 47 also have fiat abutment faces 58 and 59 respectively, for abutment against the stop 6.

The action of this part of the mechanism, in the case where air is supplied to the cylinder 54, is a follows. Air is supplied to the cylinder 54, raising plunger 53 to push the draw-rod 431 up so that the head 45 is between the upper seatings 53 and 51, as described above. The stop 6 is positioned by operating one of the series of pin 5 and locked in position. The jaw 47 is moved towards the stop 6 by means of lever 7, and its seating 48 abuts the head 45, which it carries together with the attached draw-rod, and sliding frame 29 as it continues to move. FIGURE 3 shows the seating 49 abutting the head 45, and FIGURE 2 shows the face 59 abutting the stop 6, with the jaw 4-6 approaching the stop. When the face 59 of the jaw 47 abuts against the stop 6, the opposing jaw 46 is moved towards the stop 6 by lever 8, until the face 53 abuts against the stop 6 and the seating 51 abuts against the head 45. The head 45 is thus positioned by the jaws and .7 in a fixed positional relationship with the stop 6, so that the position of the matrix carrier which carries the head 45 is fixed in one of two positions. The position of the head 45, actuated by the cylinder 54 and plunger 53, selects one of these two positions. The distance of 0.2 inch between the alternative position which the matrix case can assume due to the relative displacement of the pairs of seatings in the jaws 46 and 47 is, in this example, the distance between two adjacent rows of matrices in that direction in which the matrix carrier is moved and positioned by this part of the mechanism (i.e. sideways with respect to the casting machine). The position of the matrix case in the other direction perpendicular thereto i.e. backwards and forwards with respect to the casting machine, is determined by the other part of the mechanism previously described. Thus if the plunger 53 is raised, that row of matrices is selected which is adjacent to the row selected if the plunger 53 were lowered.

The means for controlling the selection of one of the pins of the series of pin 5 and the-actuation of the plunger 53 comprises a pneumatic system which is illustrated diagrammatically in FIGURES 4 and 5. This system is generally similar to that described, for example, in British patent specification No. 8633 of 1899 with reference to FIGURES 107-112 thereof.

The system in the present example comprises an air tower 61 over which the aforesaid perforated ribbon passes, connected by way of various pneumatic relay and switch means 62, 63 and 64, to a front pin block 65 which contains the aforesaid pins 5 (not shown in FIGURE 4) together with the cylinder 54, and to a rear pin block 65:: which carries the aforesaid pins 5a. The signals known as the E and F signals from the air tower are transmitted by pipes E1 and F1 respectively to the duplex value box 62, which is connected to two pins 5a known respectively as the E and F pins in the rear pin block 65a by pipes E2 and F2. The signal known as the D signal from the air tower is transmitted by pipe D1, to the rotary air switch 64, which is also connected to a pin 5a known as the D pin in the rear pin block by means of pipe D2.

The pipe 55 which supplies air to the cylinder 54 in the front pin block is connected at its other end to a pneumatic relay 63. Compressed air is fed into the relay 63 from pipe 66 from a constant pressure source which also feeds the air tower 61. The relay 63 is also connected by pipe L2 to the rotary air switch 64, which switch is also connected to the duplex valve box 62 by pipe L1.

The'duplex valve box 62 provides a pneumatic and gate, and may be for example of the type described in United States Patent No. 2,804,195 with reference to FIG- URE 12 thereof. Its arrangement is such that when either an E signal alone or an F signal alone is fed into it, that signal is passed along the respective pipe E2 and F2 to raise the respective pin E or F in the rear pin block, to designate as aforesaid a position of the matrix carrier in one direction. However, when an E signal and an F signal are both fed simultaneously into the duplex valve box 62, the compressed air signal from one of them is directed to the pipe L1. The other air signal is fed to raise the respective E or F pin on the rear pin block 65a but as will be explained later, this raised pin is not operative in positioning the matrix case.

The pneumatic relay 63 is such that when a signal in the form of a pulse of compressed air is fed along the pipe L2, the spool of the relay is set by the pulse to connect the constant air pressure pipe 66 to the cylinder 54 via the pipe 55. Thi urges the plunger 53 upwards. The air pressure in pipe 66 remains connected to the cylinder 54 so that if the head 45 is held by the jaws in and 4-7 in its lower position when the signal pulse occurs, the plunger will still be urged to move upwardly when the jaws re lease the head later in the casting cycle of the caster. On completion of the aforesaid cycle a lever (not shown in the drawings) resets the relay 63, and this shuts off the supply of air from pipe 66 to pipe 55. However, if no input air signal has been fed into the relay from pipe L2, then air pressure will not be connected to pipe 55, so that the plunger 53 will remain in or fall to its lower position when the jaws 46 and 47 open. The relay 63 is provided because, due to the nature of the cycle or operations of the casting machine, an air signal is fed along the pipe L2 at a point in the cycle which is too soon to operate the cylinder 54 directly as required.

The rotary air switch as is shown somewhat diagrammatically in section in FIGURE 5 and comprises a solid block 67 having a cylindrical chamber 68. A tap is mounted for rotation therein and has two parallel walls 69 whose ends are in sealing contact with the walls of the chamber, and defining between them a central passage 71, and two outer passages '72. The air pipes LI. and L2 enter the chamber diametrically opposite each other and at right angles to the diameter at whose ends the air pipes D1 and D2 enter the chamber.

When the tap is in the position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 5, the pipe L1 is connected to the pipe D2, and the pipe D1 is connected to the pipe L2. Hence when E and F signals appear simultaneously at duplex valve box 62 the resulting signal in line L1 will be fed to the pipe D2 to raise the D pin in the rear pin block 65a. One of the pins E or F will also be raised, as described above, but the jaw 4a contacts the D pin alone whilst the jaw 3a does not contact any pin but only the jaw 4a, so that the raised D pin determines the position of the matrix carrier in one direction. When a D signal appears in the pipe D1 it will be fed into the pipe L2, and so set the relay 63 to raise the plunger 53 in the front pin block. Thus the plunger 54 may be selectively raised or lowered for each operation of the jaws 46 and 47 to select one of the alternative positions for the sliding frame 29. The required signal is provided in the form of one or more perforations in the record strip, punched in the record strip when it is perforated in a separate keyboard-operated perforator in the normal Way.

When the tap is in the position shown in hatched lines in FIGURE 5 i.e. forty-five degrees from the previously described position, the pipe D2 is connected to the pipe D1, the pipe L1 is sealed, and the pipe L2 is connected to a vent 73. Hence when a D signal appears in the pipe D1, from the air tower it will be fed into the pipe D2, to raise the D pin 'in the rear air block. Vlhen a signal appears in the pipe Ll, due to the simultaneous occurrence of E and F signals, this signal will not be passed to the relay 63, so that the cylinder 54 will not be actuated to raise the plunger 53.

In the Monotype casting machine, the matrices are arranged in horizontal and vertical rows within the matrix case, the number of rows in each direction being at least equal to the number of pins 5, 5a in the respective directions (FIGURE 1), and each horizontal row contains matrices for casting type of the same unit value, i.e. the same width or set. The width or set of each type is determined by the mould blade which is positioned by the normal wedge. The position of the wedge is determined by the raising of one of the pins 5, which also determines the row selected in the matrix case. Thus the matrices in any one row are restricted to the same width or set size.

An advantage of the present apparatus is that it enables the matrix case to be moved leftwardly or rightwardly one or more rows independently of the position of the mould blade. Thus existing type casting or photographic composing machines may be operated with reduced unit value restriction. It thus enables type to be cast having greater or lesser set size than the row in which the selected matrix is located.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing example. For instance, the adjusting means for the matrix positioning means may be provided in any convenient form and position in the matrix positioning mechanism. Such adjusting means may be provided for both the sets of positioning means which position the matrix carrier in both the aforementioned perpendicular directions.

he pneumatic delay relay 63 may be similar to that described in United States Patent No. 2,804,195 with respect to FIGURE 12 thereof, only one output line being used.

The seatings 48, 49, 51 and 52 in the jaws 46 and 47 may be staggered in the opposite direction to that described. More than two sets of such scatings may be provided, so that a range of three, four or more positions of the matrix carrier for a given position of the first abutment, instead of a range of two positions as in the example hereinbefore described.

Matrix cases may be used in which the distance between adjacent rows of matrices is 0.4 inch, or some other distance, instead of 0.2 inch as in the example first described.

The operation of the plunger 53 may be controlled by any convenient signal or combination of signals from the air tower, instead of the D, E and signals as in this example. The rotary air switch 64 may be omitted, and an air signal line may be provided solely for operating the plunger 53. There may be provided means for assisting the return of the draw-rod 41 and head 45 to their lower-most or other standard position. Such means may comprise, for example, a spring urging the draw-rod downwards, or a further cylinder and plunger aranged to selectively push the draw-rod down. Alternatively, a single double-acting cylinder and piston may be used.

In particular, this invention may be applied to and embodied in a photographic composing machine such as is sold under the registered trade mark Monophoto. Such a machine is generally similar in construction and operation to a Monotype casting machine but the matrices are in the form of transparencies, which are positioned at an illuminated aperture to make a photograph at a predetermined place on a photographic film. The set, or distance between successive characters on the film, is determined, in dependence upon which one of one of the sets of stop pins is raised, in similar manner to that described with respect to the casting machine. This invention enables, e.g. characters to be exposed on the film having a different unit value to that determined by their position in the matrix case.

I claim:

1. In a composing machine, the combination comprising a carrier for carrying matrices arrayed in a plurality of rows in the carrier, the carrier being movable in a direction transversely of the rows to bring a selected one of the rows to a predetermined row position to allow composition of a character from one of the matrices in that row; row positioning means including a plurality of selecting pins and row selecting means, the selecting pins and the row selecting means being operable to co-operate to select one of the said rows to be brought to the said row position; width setting means, associated with each of said pins, for setting the width of a character to be composed, said width setting means providing a predetermined width which has a unique value for each pin, whereby when a pin is selected the said Width is consequently determined; the said row selecting means comprising means for selecting a row by co-operation with a first pin thereby setting one width for a character to be composed from a matrix in the said row, and mean for alternatively selecting the said row by co-operation with a second pin thereby setting another width for a character to be composed from a matrix in the said row.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the row selecting means includes a draw-rod extending along the said direction in which the carrier is movable, a head on the draw-rod, the said draw-rod being attached to the carrier for movement of the head transversely of the said direction; a pair of jaws; jaw-operating means operable to close the jaws and set them at a position determined by the selection of one of the selecting pins; a plurality of pairs of seatings in the jaws, said pairs of seatings being displaced relative to one another along the said direction and also transversely thereto; means for positioning the draw-rod head transversely to the said direction to engage a selected one of the said pairs of seatings to position the carrier to bring the selected one of the rows to the predetermined row position, and means for selecting a first pin and a first position of the drawrod head thereby to select one row from said first pin, and means for alternatively selecting a second pin and a second position of the draw-rod head thereby to select the said row from said second pin.

3. In a composing machine, the combination comprising a carrier carrying matrices arrayed in a plurality of rows in the carrier, the carrier being movable in a direction transversely of the rows to bring a selected one of the rows to a predetermined row position to allow composition of a character from one of the matrices in that row; r w positioning means including a plurality of selecting pins and row selecting means, the selecting pins and the row selecting means being operable to co-operate to select one of the said rows to be brought to the said row position; the number of the said selecting pins of the row positioning means is at least as great as the number of the said rows of matrices in the carrier; width setting means, associated with each of said pins, for setting the width of a character to be composed, said width setting means providing a predetermined width which has a unique value for each pin, whereby when a pin is selected the said width is consequently determined; the said row selecting means comprising means for selecting a row by co-operation with a first pin thereby setting one width for a character to be composed from a matrix in the said row, and means for alternatively selecting the said row by co-operation with a second pin thereby setting another width for a character to be composed from a matrix in the said row.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 3, wherein the row selecting means includes a draw-rod extending along the said direction in which the carrier is movable, a head on the draw-rod, the said draw-rod being attached to the carrier for movement of the head transversely of the said direction; a pair of jaws; jaw-operating means operable to close the jaws and set them at a position determined by the selection of one of the selecting pins; a plurality of pairs of seatings in the jaws, said pairs of seatings being displaced relative to one another along the said direction and also transversely thereto; means for positioning the draw-rod head transversely to the said direction to engage a selected one of the said pairs of seatings to position the carrier to bring the selected one of the rows to the predetermined row position, and means for selecting a first pin and a first position of the draw-rod head thereby to select one row from said first pin, and means for alternatively selecting a second pin and a second position of the draw-rod head thereby to select the said row from said second pin.

5. In a composing machine, the combination comprising a carrier for carrying matrices arrayed in a plurality of rows in the carrier, the carrier being movable in a direction transversely of the rows to bring a selected one of the rows to a predetermined row position to allow composition of a character from one of the matrices in that row; row positioning means including a plurality of selecting pins and a row selecting means, the selecting pins and the row selecting means being operable to co-operate to select one of the aforesaid rows to be brought to the aforesaid row position; said row selecting means comprising an abutment member movable along the said direction and having a plurality of abutments which are displaced relatively to one another along the said direction and also transversely thereto; means for setting the abutment member at a position along the said direction determined by which one of the said plurality of selecting pins is selected; a carrier abutment carried by the carrier and movable transversely to the said direction with respect to the carrier, to engage a selected one of the said plurality of abutamass? ments of the abutment member to select one of the said plurality of rows.

6. In a composing machine, the combination comprising a carrier for carrying matrices arrayed in a plurality of rows in the carrier, the carrier being movable in a direction transversely of the rows to bring a selected one of the rows to a predetermined row position to allow composition of a character from one of the matrices in that row; row positioning means including a plurality of selecting pins and a row selecting means, the selecting pins and the row selecting means being operable to cooperate to select one of the aforesaid rows to be brought to the aforesaid row position; said row selecting means including a draw-rod extending along the said direction in which the carrier is movable, a head on the draw-rod, said draw-rod being attached to the carrier for movement of the head transversely of the said direction; a pair of jaws; jaw-operating means operable to close the jaws and set them at a position determined by the selection of one of the selecting pins; a plurality of pairs of seatings in the jaws, said pairs of seatings being displaced relative to one another along the said direction and also transversely thereto; means for positioning the draw-rod head transversely to the said direction to engage a selected one of the said pairs of seatings to position the carrier to bring the selected one of the rows to the predetermined row position.

7. In a composing machine, the combination comprising a carrier for carrying matrices arrayed in a plurality of rows in the carrier, the carrier being movable in a direction transversely of the rows to bring a selected one of the rows to a predetermined row position to allow composition of a character from one of the matrices in that row; row positioning means including a plurality of selecting pins and a row selecting means, the selecting pins and the row selecting means being operable to cooperate to select one of the aforesaid rows to be brought to the aforesaid row position; said row selecting means including a draw-rod extending along the said direction in which the carrier is movable, a head on the draw-rod, said draw-rod being attached to the carrier for movement of the head transversely of the said direction; a pair of jaws; jaw-operating means operable to close the jaws and set them at a position determined by the selection of one of the selecting pins; a plurality of pairs of seatings in the jaws, said pairs of seatings being displaced relative to one another along the said direction and also transversely thereto; means for positioning the draw-rod head transversely to the said direction to engage a selected one of the said pairs of seatings to position the carrier to bring the selected one of the rows to the predetermined row position, and means for selecting a first pin and a first position of the draw-rod head thereby to select one row from said first pin, and means for alternatively selecting a second pin and a second position of the draw-rod head thereby to select the said row from said second pin.

8. In a composing machine, the combination comprising a carrier carrying matrices arrayed in a plurality of rows in the carrier, the carrier being movable in a direction transversely of the rows to bring a selected one of the roWs to a predetermined row position to allow composition of a character from one of the matrices in that row; row positioning means including a plurality of selecting pins and row selecting means, the selecting pins and the row selecting means being operable to co-operate to select one of the said rows to be brought to the said row position; the number of the said selecting pins of the row positioning means being equal to the number of the said rows of matrices in the carrier; width setting means, associated with each of said pins, for setting the Width of a character to be composed, said Width setting means providing a predetermined width which has a unique value for each pin, whereby when a pin is selected the said width is consequently determined; the said row selecting means comprising means for selecting a row by co-operation with a first pin thereby setting one width for a character to be composed from a matrix in the said row, and means for alternatively selecting the said row by co-operation with a second pin thereby setting another width for a character to be composed from a matrix in the said row.

9. The combination as claimed in claim 8, wherein the row selecting means includes a draw-rod extending along the said direction in which the carrier is movable, a head on the draw-rod, the said draw-rod being attached to the carrier for movement of the head transversely of the said direction; a pair of jaws, jaw-operating means operable to close the jaws and set them at a position determined by the selection of one of the selecting pins; a plurality of pairs of seatings in the jaws, said pairs of seatings being displaced relative to one another along the said direction and also transversely thereto; means for positioning the draw-rod head transversely to the said direction to engage a selected one of the said pairs of seatings to position the carrier to bring the selected one of the rows to the predetermined row position, and means for selecting a first pin and a first position of the drawrod head thereby to select one row from said first pin, and means for alternatively selecting a second pin and a second position of the draw-rod head thereby to select the said roW from said second pin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,024,524 Pierpont Apr. 30, 1912 

1. IN A COMPOSING MACHINE, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A CARRIER FOR CARRYING MATRICES ARRAYED IN A PLURALITY OF ROWS IN THE CARRIER, THE CARRIER BEING MOVABLE IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSELY OF THE ROWS TO BRING A SELECTED ONE OF THE ROWS TO A PREDETERMINED ROW POSITION TO ALLOW COMPOSITION OF A CHARACTER FROM ONE OF THE MATRICES IN THAT ROW; ROW POSITIONING MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SELECTING PINS AND ROW SELECTING MEANS, THE SELECTING PINS AND THE ROW SELECTING MEANS BEING OPERABLE TO CO-OPERATE TO SELECT ONE OF THE SAID ROWS TO BE BROUGHT TO THE SAID ROW POSITION; WIDTH SETTING MEANS, ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF SAID PINS, FOR SETTING THE WIDTH OF A CHARACTER TO BE COMPOSED, SAID WIDTH SETTING MEANS PROVIDING A PREDETERMINED WIDTH WHICH HAS A UNIQUE VALUE FOR EACH PIN, WHEREBY WHEN A PIN IS SELECTED THE SAID WIDTH IS CONSEQUENTLY DETERMINED; THE SAID ROW SELECTING MEANS COMPRISING MEANS FOR SELECTING A ROW BY CO-OPERATION WITH A FIRST PIN THEREBY SETTING ONE WIDTH FOR A CHARACTER TO BE COMPOSED FROM A MATRIX IN THE SAID ROW, AND MEANS FOR ALTERNATIVELY SELECTING THE SAID ROW BY CO-OPERATION WITH A SECOND PIN THEREBY SETTING ANOTHER WIDTH FOR A CHARACTER TO BE COMPOSED FROM A MATRIX IN THE SAID ROW. 